Tuesday, 28 February 2017

Oroville and Shasta Dams at stress point as early spring arrives bringing temperatures into the high 70’s to northern Cal causing massive snow melt

This aerial view looks east toward Oroville Dam and Lake Oroville, showing the damaged spillway with its outflow of 100,000 cubic feet per second at the Butte County, California, site. Photo taken February 15, 2017. (Dale Kolke/California Department of Water Resources)

Early spring to bring another flood crisis for Northern California

Northern California is to face yet another flood crisis for Oroville and Shasta Dams as an early spring arrives bringing temperatures into the high 70’s bringing an early snow melt for the area…
The Sacramento area will bask in temperatures in the low 90’s for the next five days according to Accuweather.
NOAA claimed this week, recent storms in California have provided widespread drought relief, but also caused deadly and destructive flooding and mudslides.
Last week residents were evacuated from their homes as water poured over the damaged spillway at the Oroville Dam.
Many rivers and creeks in the Central Valley and around Northern California are at or above flood stage.
This spring, and possibly before the end of winter, we should see some warming up, which could cause snow to melt faster and flood some areas.
Snow in the high Sierras tends to produce a gradual runoff that should keep rivers and reservoirs at healthy levels through the dry season, though the sheer volume of expected runoff could cause flooding.
10 photos show extensive damage at Oroville spillway

Sent in by Chessie Crow Gartmayer
Quote:

Oroville Dam--there is another 'dam' underground, but it is powered by electricity & the power was cut when poles were removed because of the spillway damage. The turbines in this underground 'dam' are now clogged with debris. The reason Oroville has not failed is the 9 dams in the watershed above Oroville Dam have held back waters. They are at or are at near capacity with flooding occurring in surrounding towns/roads. Warm weather & more storms on the way?

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